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SA passports may soon become much more desirable, this foreign expert believes

Source: Insider SA, 09/08/2018


The South African passport will become more useful in the foreseeable
future as the country implements widespread reforms, a foreign expert
believes.
• The value of the South African passport fell 15 places on the Henley
Passport Index between 2008 and 2018.
• South Africans can travel to over 100 countries visa-free, including
Russia, Brazil, and Ireland.
The implementation of widespread reforms at the department of home
affairs since 2014 is expected to increase the value of the South
African passport in the foreseeable future, said Ryan Cummings,
director of Africa risk consultancy Signal Risk.
“Other factors that could strengthen the South African passport over
the short-to-medium-term include President Cyril Ramaphosa’s intention
to ease visa restrictions for African passport holders so as to induce
greater intra-Africa trade,” Cummings said.
South Africa fell to 50th position on the most recent Henley Passport
Index, measuring the strength of passports, down 15 places from a high
of 35 in 2008.
Both Seychelles and Mauritius surpass South Africa, with passports at
position 24 and 28.
Cummings said South Africa’s drop in the ranking was caused by
concerns over the unlawful replication of passports, often abetted by
corrupt officials within the department of home affairs.”
“These concerns saw visa regulations being enforced by several
countries, including the UK and Colombia.”
An improvement at home affairs could see such decisions reversed.
The department is in the middle of a major upgrade of its systems,
including going paperless.
South Africans can travel to over 100 countries visa-free, including
Russia, Brazil and Ireland.
Amanda Smit, director at Henley & Partners South Africa, said South
Africa hasn’t managed to increase the number of places passport
holders can travel to easily.
“It has not improved its global access levels as quickly as other
high-performing countries on the index, leading to an overall decline
in its passport power,” Smit said.


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